Valve



F. NIESEMANN 2,834,378

VALVE 5 May 13, 1958 Original Filed Feb. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 milATTORNEYS y 3, 1958 F. NIESEMANN 2,834,378

VALVE Original Filed Feb. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYSUnited States Patet VALVE Fritz Niesemann, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor toRockwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Continuation of application Serial No. 410,975, February17, 1954. This application June 3, 1957, Serial No. 663,097

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-630.15)

This invention relates to a valve for use with fluid dispensingapparatus and more particularly to improvements in such valve enablingproper use in predetermined quantity control of fluid in which quickeasy opening and automatic cutting off of the fluid when the desiredquantity has been delivered is desired and is a continuation ofco-pending application Serial No. 410,975 filed February 17, 1954.

The invention in its preferred embodiment was developed in relation tothe dispensing of large quantities of fluid at high velocity through aline having a flow control valve. Should the valve attempt to quicklyand completely cut off the flow of fluid in one single stage of closingwhen the predetermined quantity has been dispensed, the hydraulic hammercaused by this quick cutoff would result in undue shock and damage tothe valve, meter and other elements in the fluid line and may break thevalve latching mechanism.

Furthermore in such high velocity large quantity fluid flow systems asingle valve capable of such quick cut-off would have to be extremelypowerful and speedy in action but delicately timed for accurate control,and such a valve and its control and actuating mechanism would beexpensive and require constant attention to maintain its accuracy.Various types of single stage closure valve assemblies have been triedfor the purpose but they have been mainly ineflicient or so complicatedor expensive as to prove unacceptable for practical purposes and havebeen discarded.

Consequently it has been proposed to provide apparatus wherein thedelivery of fluid is cut ofl in gradual stages. For example it has beenproposed that a meter in the fluid line operate a preset'predeterminedregister mechanism which through some device such as a latch box willeffect staged closing of the line. Usually this is done by closing amain valve when the greater part of the desired quantity of fluidhasbeen delivered and continuing flow at a reduced rate through asmaller valve which is triggered at the proper time to complete the flowcut-off.

This prior two stage plural valve fluid cut-off apparatus has proved tosome extent satisfactory in operation but it involves a multiplicity ofsmall complex parts particularly in the latch mechanism for the valveand the valves used in association with such mechanism have beenmechanically complex.

It has also been suggested to provide two stage closure of a singlevalve but such mechanisms have been complex and ditficult to maintain inaccurate adjustment.

The present invention provides a single quantity control valve which canbe readily moved to and latched in an open position and as disclosed inthe aforementioned parent application, is adapted for use in pluralstage closure with a relatively simple uncomplicated structure. Thenovel valve structure incorporates a fluid pressure balancing meanstogether with a pressure equalizing pilot valve opened prior to movingthe valve to open position to facilitate opening of the valve.

With these and other considerations in view, a primary object of thisinvention is to provide a novel fluid flow control valve of greatlysimplified construction, the operation of which, from open to closedposition, is adapted to be controllable by a meter driven register andlatching device in three or more stages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pilot-operated,hydraulically balanced fluid flow control valve, the construction ofwhich is greatly simplified over the prior art valves.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises theimproved predetermining dispensing mechanism for fluid meters and theconstruction and relative arrangements of its several component parts,as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the appendedclaims.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the general assembly of a meter, register,valve and control linkage, illustrating the valve of this invention inplan view;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 1, alsoillustrating the valve in front elevation;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the pilot operated valve taken alongthe lines 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a section taken along the lines 4-4 in Figure 1 showing thevalve operating arm and shaft.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY For purposes of illustration, in Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings there is disclosed a general assembly of the several componentunits of a predetermining dispensing system utilizing the valve of mypresent invention. The fluid pressure operated meter 30 is preferably ofthe well known Rotocycle type, an example of which is disclosed inUnited States Patent No. 2,274,206 issued February 24-, 1942. The meteris provided with a cast vertical end housing section 31 which encloses avertically. extending continuously driven meter operated drive shaft(not shown) which is connected to the register input. Clamped betweenthe upper end of the housing 31 and a base plate 33, as by machinescrews passing through spacers 34, is a latch box unit indicatedgenerally by the numeral 35. Rigidly mounted on the base plate 33, as byscrews 36, is a housing unit 37 which contains the settablepredetermining register mechanism. The totalizing register 38 is securedto the top of housing 37 by suitable means (not shown).

The quantity control valve unit 4-0 is rigidly attached to the outlet ofthe fluid meter 30 and is operatively connected to the valve latchingunit 35 by a rod 41, arm 43, and shaft 42.

Valve which is integrally formed with the body 44. A circularopening 54formed in Web 50 permits fluid communication between the passages 46 and48 and has a tapered valve seat 52 formed on the lower portion of itsperiphery.

Coaxial with opening 54 is an opening 56 in the valve body 44, aroundwhich extends a circular flange 53. An annular shoulder 60 is milledinto flange S8 to provide an annular abutment coaxial with openings 54and 56. Received within opening 56 is a rigid plunger housing 62consisting of cylindrical side wall 64 having integrally formed on theexterior thereof a laterally extending annular flange 66 adapted to seaton the annular shoulder 60 in flange 58. The plunger housing 62 iscompleted by an integral top wall 68 and reciprocally therein. An accesscap 72 is secured to the valve body 44 by bolts 74 so as to clamp theannular flange 66 between the shoulder 60 and the access cap 72 to thushold the; plunger housing 62 rigidly in position within the valve body44.

The interior of plunger housing 62 is divided into chambers 76 and 78 bymeans of plunger 70. Chamber 76' is connected to inlet passage 46 by aplurality of passages 80 drilled through top wall 68' of housing 62 andsufficient in number to permit relatively unrestricted fluid flow intoand out of chamber 76. Chamber 78 is connected with inlet passage 46 bypredetermined orifice bleed passages 82 drilled through the annularflange 66 closely adjacent the side wall for a purpose explained below.Gaskets 84 on both sides of flange 66 prevent escape of fluid betweenvalve body 44 and access cap 72.

Extending through a central bore 86 in the top wall of housing 62 is avalve sleeve 88, also termed the lower portion of the valve stem, whichhas an axially extending threaded bore 90. The valve sleeve 88, aconcentrically bored spring clip seal assembly 92, plunger 70, a washer94 and a lower cupped plate 95 are assembled and clamped in respectiveabutting relation by a hollow screw 96 passing through the washer,plunger and seal assembly and threaded into bore 90. The internalaxially extending bore 98 of screw 06 connects valve sleeve bore 90 withchamber 78.

The main valve stem 100 has a head portion 102 and is externallythreaded on its lower end. Stem 100 has axially extending internal bore104 connecting at one end with a counterbore 106 in the head portion102, and terminating at itsopposite end in an annular valve seat 107formed on the lower end of the valve stem. A pilot valve stem 108extends through here 104 has a threaded undercut portion at its lowerend holding a pilot valve element 112 clamped against the stem body by anut 110 threaded on the end of the stem. A pilot valve head 114 isthreaded to the upper end of pilot valve stem 108 within counterbore 106of valve stem 100 and a spring 116 is compressed between head 114 andthe shoulder formed between eounterbore 106 and bore 104. Spring 116biases the pilot valve member 112 against the seat 107 formed on thelower end of main valve stem 100, thereby closing off the passage 104from bore 90. It will be noted that ample clearance exists between thepilot valve stem 108 and the bore 104 and between the pilot valve head114 and the wall of counterbore 106 to permit flow of fluid throughpassage 98, bores 90 and 104, counter-bore 106 and cross passage outlets107 when the valve member 112 is unseated.

The main valve member 117 consists of a guide member 118, a resilientvalve member 122 and a back-up plate 124, all of generally circularconfiguration in plan and all mounted on main valve stem 100 by means ofsuitable central coaxial bores extending respectively therethrough.Back-up plate 124 has an annular recess 125 in which valve member 122 isdisposed. The main valve stem 100 is threaded into here 90 in valvesleeve 88 to clamp the guide member 118, valve member 122 ,and plate 124between the sleeve head portion 102 and the upper end of valve sleeve 88in such a manner that the guide member 118 extends through opening 54 inweb 50. When the valve is in its closed position, as shown in Figure 3,resilient valve member 122 is seated on seat 52 to close off the outletpassage 48 from inlet passage 46. Integrally formed on guide member 118are four radially extending vanes 120 which serve to pilot or guide themain valve assembly in the opening 52 during opening and closingmovements. The periphery 121 of the base of guide member 118 is slightlytapered and is coextensive with inclined notches 123 in the vanes 120thus providing; a clearance between guide 118 and valve seat opening; 54which increases; as the, valve 4. member 117 moves toward open positionto obtain a maximum new opening as rapidly as possible. A spring 126 iscompressed between the plunger 70 and the access cap 72 and is pilotedthereon by a boss 128. Spring 126 bears against the plunger 70 andserves to normally urge the main valve assembly; towards a closedposition.

Fastened to a boss 160, integral with the web 50 on the side of outletpassage 48 isa valve guide stop 162,

I aheavy U.-bracket which extends over the valve seat opening 54 betweenvanes of valve guide member 118. An overhanging end 164 of valve guidestop 162 is disposed above the base ofi guide member 118 and will limitvertical. movement of the main valve member when the guide member 118abuts end 164. This prevents the resilient member 122 from becomingdamaged by successive impacts and compressions against valve seat 52.

An apertured cup-shaped fiow directing sleeve 166 is clamped between theshoulder of valve stem head 1.02 and the sleeve 168 of valve guidemember 118. The outer wall of flow directing sleeve 166' surrounds andis spaced a short distance from the pilot valve outlet passages 107. todivert high velocity jets of fluid which issue from outlets 107 when thepilot valve is opened.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4, a vertically extendingsleeve 130 is integrally formed on valve body 44. Journalled for rotarymotion therein is a shaft 42, the lower end of which is piloted in thevalve body 44' as shown at 134. The shaft 42 has a squared end portion136. Fixed on the square portion for rotary movement therewith is alever 138 (Figures 3 and 4), the free end of which bears against pilotvalve head 114. The shaft 42 is held against axial movement relative tosleeve 130 by means of the integral shoulder 144, formed thereon,abutting an annular collar 140 secured to the upper end of sleeve 130'by screws 146. An 0 ring seal 142. is provided in a groove 143 adjacentthe shoulder 144 and prevents escape of fluid from the outlet passage 48between shaft 42 and sleeve 130. Referring to Figure 4, as shaft 42 isrotated in a clockwise direction, the initial movement of lever 138 willdepress pilot valve stem 108 against the combined pressures of spring116' and the fluid acting against pilot valve 112, to unseat valve 112.Continued rotation of said 42 will cause lever 138 to completelycompress spring 116 and unseat the main valve assembly 117 against thepressure of spring 126.

When the valve assembly is, in closed position, a pressure difierentialwill, exist between the inlet passage 46 and the outlet passage 48 whichtends to maintain the main valve in its closed position. As previouslypointed out, passages 80 and bleed orifices 82 respectively eonnect thechambers 76 and '78 to inlet passage 46, and will eliminate staticpressure differential across plunger 70. Therefore, when the main valve117 is in its closed position, the chamber 78 and all passagescommunicating therewith will be under the same pressure as that existingin inlet passage 46 i. e., line pressure. As explained, the lever 138,in its initial opening movement, will unseat pilot valve 112 against thepressure existing in chamber 78. However, since the pilot valve 112 isof a relatively small area, the total force acting against it by reasonof the fluid pressure in chamber 78 is rela tively small. As soon as thepilot valve member 112 is unseated, the outlet passagev 48 is connectedwith the chamber 78 through passagesv 98, 90, 104 and counterbore 106,thereby quickly reducing the pressure in chamber 78 to. the pressure ofthe outlet passage 48. Because of the restricted orifice bleeds 82, aconsiderable time interval will occur before the pressure. in chamber 78can increase to equal that in inlet passage 46. During this interval,there will be fluid pressure from the inlet chamber exerted throughunrestricted passages 80 against the top ofpiston 70 tending to open themain valve. The fluid under pressure in the inlet chamber 46 also actsagainst the bottom of the valve plate 124, tending to maintain the mainvalve in a closed position. Since the area of piston 70' is slightlygreater than the area of plate 124, and equal pressures are actingagainst both, a resultant force tending to open the main valve isavailable during this interval to counterbalance the effect of spring126, thereby enabling a practically effortless initial opening of thevalve.

An operating handle 132 and lever arm 43 are removably mounted on thesplined outer end of shaft 42. One end of llatch rod 41 is pivotallyconnected to the free end of lever arm 43 as by a clevis and pinarrangement 2543. The opposite end of rod 41 is pivoted to a latch bar152 as by another clevis and pin arrangement indicated at 154 on Figure.l. The shaft 4-2 is thus connected with the mechanism of latch box 35by means of lever arm 43, rod 41 and latch bar 152, and reciprocation oflatch bar 352 will directly control opening and closing of the valveassembly.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A flow control valve for use in a predetermining dispensing apparatuscomprising: a valve body having an inlet passage and an outlet passagetherein disposed adjacent one another; valve means between said passagesbiased to a closed position by fluid pressure in the inlet passage andcomprising a hollow valve stem, pilot valve means within said hollowstem biased to closed position by said fluid pressure inthe inletpassage, spring means in said hollow valve stem biasing said pilot valveto a closed position; a chamber, having one apertured end wall disposedconcentrically to said valve stem in said inlet passage; piston means onsaid valve stem within and dividing said chamber into upper and lowerportions; predetermined orifice bleed means connecting the lowercylindrical chamber portion to said inlet valve passage; fluid passagemeans formed in said apertured end wall and connecting said upperchamber portion with said inlet passage; and means to successivelyactuate said pilot valve and said main valve againt the biasing forces.

2. A flow control valve comprising: a valve body having a partitiontherein forming an inlet passage and an outlet passage; an opening insaid partition having a valve seat on the inlet side, a cylindricalchamber having a closed end and one open end fixed in said inlet passagecoaxial with said opening, said closed end facing said opening, havingan aperture formed therein coaxial with said opening and having passagesconnecting said closed end of said chamber to the valve inlet passage;orifice bleed means connecting said open end to the inlet passage; ahollow valve stem concentric to and extending through said opening andslidably fitting in said aperture; a piston slidable in said chamber andfastened to one end of said valve stem; a valve member disposedexternally on said valve stem intermediate the ends thereof; springmeans acting between said one end of said valve stem and said valve bodyto bias said valve member toward abutting relation with said valve seat;a pilot valve in said hollow valve stem having an actuating rodextending coaxial internally andprojecting from the other end of saidvalve stem and having a head portion on the rod projection; and springmeans coacting between said head position and the valve stem to biassaid pilot valve to a closed position; rotatably mounted shaft meansextending from the interior to the exterior of said body having a levermeans on the interior and coacting with said pilot valve head portion tocontrol said pilot valve and main valve.

3. A flow control valve comprising: a valve body having a partitiontherein forming an inlet passage and an outlet passage; an opening insaid partition having a valve seat on the inlet side, a hollow valvestem extending through said opening, a main valve element and guide teamon said valve stem in the inlet side of said valve body adapted to guidein said opening and seat on said valve seat; spring means biasing saidvalve stem and main valve to a closed position; guiding and fluidpressure balancing means coacting with said spring biased valve stem toguide said valve stem during valve opening and closing movements and tofluid pressure balance said valve during opening movement; a pilot valvemeans located within said valve stem including a second valve seat, avalve 'closure member on the inlet side of said second valve seat and astemmed operator on said closure member and extending through saidsecond seat, said valve closure member being biased to a closed positionby inlet fluid pressure and having a compression spring between saidsecond valve seat and said stemmed actuator biasing said pilot valvemeans to a closed position; and control means adapted to abut said pilotvalve means to successively control said pilot valve and said mainvalve.

4. A flow control valve assembly comprising: a valve body having apartition therein forming an inlet passage and an outlet passage, therebeing an opening in said partition providing a valve seat on the inletpassage side; a cylindrical member having one closed end and one openend fixed in said inlet passage coaxial with said opening, said closedend facing said opening and having an aperture formed therein coaxialwith said opening; bleed means connecting both ends of said cylindricalmember to the valve inlet passage; a hollow valve stem concentric to andextending through said opening and slidably positioned in said aperture;a piston member slidably disposed in said cylindrical member andfastened around one end of said valve stem; a valve member disposedexternally of said chamber on said valve stem intermediate the endsthereof; spring means acting between said one end of said valve stem andsaid valve body to bias said valve member toward abutment with saidvalve seat; a pilot valve in said hollow valve stem having an actuatingrod extending coaxial internally of and projecting from the other end ofsaid valve stem and having a head portion on said projecting end, springmeans coacting between said head portion and the valve stem to bias saidpilot valve to a closed position; lever means on the interior of saidvalve body coacting with said pilot valve head portion for controllingvalve position; and means connected to said lever means for actuatingsaid valve assembly including a manual means .to position said valveassembly in open position against spring bias.

No references cited.

